Finding New Hits - Celebrity Overload, Minding the Game, and The British Podcast Invasion

CAOs you are in luck–we have a new Industry Edition of the Media Roundtable for you that does not disappoint.

Dan Granger (Oxford Road CEO & Founder) is hosting again, joined by fellow Agents of Influence Kristen Duenas, (Oxford Road Associate Media Director), Giles Martin, (Oxford Road EVP of Strategy & Insights), and Ricardo Martinez, (Oxford Road VP of Client Services). And we’re beyond pleased to welcome back James Cridland, World’s Favorite Audio Futurologist (Podnews, Podcast Business Journal).

We’re talking; buzzy new sports podcasts, Ringer’s (mostly) AI-proof union deal, the British Podcast Invasion, and so much more. Let’s dig in.

“Listeners aren't stupid. They have a lot of choices and they might check you out, but they're probably not going to stay if you're not actually good at the craft.”

• Dan Granger (Oxford Road  CEO & Founder)

Minding the Game  🏀- Lebron and JJ Redick drop a new basketball podcast that stands apart from other celebrity/sports podcasts (including Caitlyn Jenner and Lamar Odom’s new show) because it’s decidedly niche. The two ballers get into the Xs and Os of how they think about the game. It’s refreshingly in the weeds and with no sponsorships yet, they’re building it for their fan base on their terms. Time will tell how much of a crossover hit it becomes, but super-serving the most passionate fans is never a bad play. Keep an eye out for slam dunk ad opportunities.

Bumpwatch 2024 👀- There’s no election-year ad bump yet, but that doesn’t mean it’s not coming. Some of the dynamics of the primary races contributed to the lack of increased spending. Plus, gerrymandering could lead to fewer competitive districts. We’re not expecting all the negative spend forces to hold as the year continues. For CAOs, don’t expect avails will be as easy in August-November when the race heats up.

BBC Crosses the Pond 🌊- Amazon Music inks a deal to bring UK podcasts to American ears. It’s a great opportunity for advertisers to be associated with a well-respected brand and speaks to the greater trend of globalization for the audio market. Paired with AI translation, (see The Ringer’s Union Deal) we’re seeing a push to move audience-vetted, low-risk content abroad.

For audio insights you won’t get anywhere else, tune in to the full episode by clicking the link below.